Gidget Eats

Enjoying life one bite at a time.

Gidget Eats has written 327 posts for Gidget Eats

Casting Call for Food Court Wars

Posted by Gidget Eats ⋅ March 19, 2013 ⋅ Leave a Comment

I’ve got a good cop out post for y’all!

A casting producer for a new Food Network show called Food Court Wars asked me to help spread the word about a casting call in the area. It involves big names like Gordon Ramsay as the Executive Producer, and one of my brother’s favorites, Tyler Florence as the host.

This is some more specific information I was sent:

In this exciting show hosted by Tyler Florence, two teams will battle head to head to win a restaurant space RENT FREE for an entire year within one of Mississippi’s malls; a prize worth up to 100K!

We are searching for local teams with pre-existing relationships (i.e. friends, family, couples, co-workers) who believe they have the winning formula to successfully run their own locally inspired and original eatery! The eatery concept must be specific to the local Mississippi region!

For more information, please visit us at www.FoodCourtWarsCasting.com.

After I clicked the link, I saw that the concept must be based on Meridian, MS (our local region). So I expect anyone who enters and wins to invite me to their barbecue, fried catfish, tamale, caramel cake restaurant.

New Orleans Happy Hours

Posted by Gidget Eats ⋅ February 17, 2013 ⋅ Leave a Comment

Some things in life need to be shared.

Earlier this year prior to meeting my mom for our annual trip, I did a little research on happy hours and dining specials in New Orleans. Over the span of three and half days, we hit the following restaurants: Dominica, Sucre, St. James Cheese Shop, Creole Creamery, La Boulangerie, Delmonico, Port of Call, Stanley’s, Laurel Street Bakery, Angelo Brocato’s and Mandina’s.

I promise we did more than just eat.

Figuring that many others might be interested in drinking on the cheap in the Crescent City, I am sharing the list I complied. I’m sure my list is not comprehensive. Since we stayed in the Garden District, I focused on places nearby or in the French Quarter that also offered good food. Enjoy.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additions or edits.

New Orleans Happy Hours

Cure | Uptown
Deal: $5.50 classic cocktails, 40% off bottles of wine on Thursdays
Happy hour: daily, 5 – 7 p.m.

http://www.curenola.com/

The Bulldog | Mid-City and Uptown (two locations)
Deal: 50¢ off pints, $1 off pitchers, half-price house wines and 2 for 1 mixed drinks
Happy hour: Monday – Friday, 2 -7 p.m.

http://bulldog.draftfreak.com

The Columns | Upper Garden District
Deal: $4 house white, red wine and champagne by the glass, $3 well drinks, $5 martinis, $1 off all beer
Happy hour: daily, 5 – 7 p.m.

http://www.thecolumns.com

Commander’s Palace | Garden District
Deal: three course lunch special, $0.25 martinis (limit three)
Lunch hours: Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

http://www.commanderspalace.com

Coquette | Garden District
Deal: $20 three course lunch, happy hour with small plates and drink specials
Lunch hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Happy hour: Tuesday – Saturday, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

http://www.coquette-nola.com/index.html

Le Petite Grocery | Garden District
Deal: $5 feature cocktail, $6 vodka martinis, $5 wine, appetizers
Happy hour: Tuesday – Friday, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

http://www.lapetitegrocery.com

Rum House | Garden District
Deal: $2 beer, $4 margaritas and sangria, $5 mojitos and specialty drinks, $2 tacos on Tuesdays
Happy hour: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6:30 p.m.

http://www.rumhousenola.com

Salu | Garden District
Deal: half-price mussels and flatbreads, $2.50 classic margaritas, mojitos, sangrias, $3.50 – $5 specialty drinks, $2 beer
Happy hour: Monday – Friday, 4 – 7 p.m.

http://www.salurestaurant.com

Emeril’s Delmonico | Lower Garden District
Deal: small plates, half-price wine and drink specials available at the bar
Happy hour: Monday – Friday, 5 – 7 p.m.

http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/emerils-delmonico

Domenica | Central Business District
Deal: 1/2 price pizzas, $7 small plate menu, half-price wine, beer and well drinks
Happy hour: every day, 3 – 6 p.m. in the restaurant (not just the bar)

http://www.domenicarestaurant.com/

Luke | Central Business District
Deal: $0.50 oysters, half-price wine, beer and specialty drinks
Happy hour: Monday – Friday, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

http://www.lukeneworleans.com

Antoine’s Bar | French Quarter
Deal: $20.12 three course lunch specials, $0.25 martinis
Lunch hours: Monday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

http://www.antoines.com

Hermes Bar (Antoine’s) | French Quarter
Deal: food and drink specials
Happy hour: Monday – Sunday, 4 – 7 p.m.

http://www.antoines.com

Mr. B’s | French Quarter
Deal: drink specials such as $1.50 Bloody Marys, lunch specials
Lunch hours: Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

http://www.mrbsbistro.com

Cafe Adelaide | French Quarter
Deal: lunch specials and $0.25 martinis (limit three)
Lunch hours: Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

http://www.cafeadelaide.com/lunch-menu.html

Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville | French Quarter
Deal: food and drink specials available at the bar
Happy hour: daily, 5 – 10 p.m.

http://www.margaritavilleneworleans.com

(If you want to expand the location of your search, try checking out this article Top Happy Hours in New Orleans.)

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Posted by Gidget Eats ⋅ January 2, 2013 ⋅ 1 Comment

Joining the rest of the general population, to usher in the new year I’m on a renewed health kick and have included all members of my family. We’ve kicked up our daily exercise, increased our water intake and regulated back to scheduled meals. To kick my five-dessert-a-day habit which developed during the holidays, I’ve been searching for improved treat recipes.

I haven’t made Chia Chocolate Pudding or No Bake Vegan Date Bars yet, but to start 2013 off right I began by baking dog biscuits for our puppy Griswald.

Between a combination of laziness and frugality, I avoided going to the store in the rain to buy doggie treats. Figuring there had to be an easier way, these biscuits came together with ingredients I already had in my pantry.

My dog biscuits aren’t the prettiest but our puppy isn’t picky. You could go the extra mile, and they would be much more attractive if you actually possess a bone (by Martha Stewart no less) or fire hydrant ($0.76!) cookie cutter. Nevertheless, Griswald was a willing taste tester and they are officially puppy approved.

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Ingredients
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. oats
1/2 c. flaxseed
1/2 c. chicken broth
1 egg
1/4 c. peanut butter
opt: 1 T. honey, chopped parsley

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl mix together the flour, oats and flaxseed. Stir in the egg, chicken broth and peanut butter (I heated it in the microwave). A thick dough will form and if it’s too dry add water as necessary.

Other homemade dog biscuit recipes will instruct you to roll the dough on a floured surface and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. I don’t have a cute cookie cutter, so I opted for the following method.

Roll a heaping spoonful of dough into a ball, and then flatten it with the bottom of a drinking glass. Dip the glass in flour so the dough doesn’t stick. Bake for 10 minutes on one side; then flip the biscuits and bake for another 10 minutes (20 minutes total).

Let the biscuits cool completely before they are enjoyed by your furry baby! This recipe makes about 24 dog biscuits.

For a print-friendly version, click the Print & PDF button below. For more recipes check out my Recipe page.

A Sweet and Salty Holiday Tradition

Posted by Gidget Eats ⋅ December 22, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

Back during Christmas of 1991, I received a gift that would be an integral part of my foodie life. Even then at an early age, family had taken notice as my passion for food and cooking began to take shape. A dear aunt had given me a red and white checked, blank slate – “I’m Writing My Own Cookbook”.

Laminated, stained and wrinkled, this childhood cookbook is a timeline of my developing tastes (and handwriting). In the beginning any interesting recipe made the cut, but as time passed and space grew limited I was forced to be choosey. Luckily, I recorded many traditional family recipes which I still turn to, especially for the holidays.

This year I managed to throw together a few homemade gifts including Dill Oyster Crackers (page one) and Saltine Cracker Toffee (page eight). I like to give sweet and savory items together for balance. Both recipes are quick, easy and fairly inexpensive. Most importantly, they are delicious and something everyone is glad to receive.

To wrap up 2012 and welcome in 2013, these two time honored recipes are my gift to you. I wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Saltine Cracker Toffee Bars

Ingredients
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. unsalted butter
1 box of saltine crackers (roughly 35-40 crackers)
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
optional: chopped nuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a rimmed cookie sheet (or jelly roll pan) with aluminum foil. Line a single layer of saltine crackers on the covered pan in even rows.

In a small pot, melt the butter and sugar together. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then continue to let it boil for 3-4 minutes. Pour the mixture over the crackers on the pan and spread evenly. (The crackers will float out of line, gently nudge them back in place.)

Place the pan in the oven and bake for 5 minutes until bubbly. Remove the pan, make sure the crackers are in place again, and then sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Let the chocolate melt and spread evenly over crackers. If opting for nuts, sprinkle those on top and gently press them into the chocolate.

Cool completely overnight or place the pan in the freezer; once set break the toffee in pieces.

For a print-friendly version, click the Print & PDF button below. For more recipes check out my Recipe page.

Dill Oyster Crackers

Ingredients

1 – 11 oz. package oyster crackers (if you can’t find an 11 oz. package, improvise)
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1/2 package dry ranch dressing mix (I’ve used Hidden Valley and store brands)
1 t. dill weed
1/2 t. garlic salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread the crackers in a large pan; I use a 9″x13″ baking pan. In a small bowl combine the dry ranch dressing mix, dill weed and garlic salt. Pour the oil over the crackers, and then sprinkle over the seasoning mixture. Stir well until the crackers are covered in seasoning.

Bake the crackers for 10 minutes. Let cool and store them in an air tight container.

For a print-friendly version, click the Print & PDF button below. For more recipes check out my Recipe page.

Places to Eat in the Florida Keys

Posted by Gidget Eats ⋅ December 10, 2012 ⋅ Leave a Comment

Cuban Cuisine at El Siboney

During our tour of the Florida Keys, we ate at too many memorable places to write individual stories about each one. Such good food, so little time.

As usual, before hitting the road I had a solid list of restaurant recommendations from Chowhound, online research and a friend who used to live in Key West. There’s something about camping that makes food taste amazing, even more so when it’s raining on your parade. Probably because delicious food is that single bright, dry spot during the day.

Not every place we stopped at was awesome. Sometimes even the best of intentions go astray due to circumstances beyond your control. I’ve listed the highlights and places I would return below.

Miami

Versailles Cuban Restaurant | Miami, FL
Versailles is located downtown near the baseball stadium in Little Havanna, the “heart” of Miami’s Cuban community. They have a popular walk up window where you can order a small cafe con leche, which is cheap, sugary and delicious. I wish I had one of these down the street, then I would have a cafe con leche in the morning every single day.

Gator Grill | Homestead, FL
Immediately following our walk on Anhinga Trail in the Everglades, my husband wanted to eat alligator. I was thrilled to be able to spot a couple babies and large ones from afar, not be served one on a plate. However he and hunger won, so we ate lunch just outside the park at Gator Grill. I tried my husband’s alligator tacos which tasted like chewy chicken, but he loved them.

Robert is Here fruit stand | Homestead, FL
Robert’s fruit stand kept popping up on websites as a place to stop by for a Key Lime Pie Shake and to sample unusual produce. The shake was very, very tart.

Florida Keys

Big Pine Restaurant | Big Pine Key, FL
This restaurant was not on my prepared list, but rather a hidden gem we stumbled upon. Thank goodness you can’t plan everything out. We ate here for dinner and came back for breakfast. I’m not sure if it was the hunger talking, but our meals were especially delicious and please try the fried fish sandwich.

No Name Pub | Big Pine Key, FL
My husband was excited for No Name because they boast of having the best pizza ever. Well, after Shakespeares and Pizzeria de Michele in Naples we have high standards. It was decent and the restaurant is covered in dolla, dolla bills.

Key West

Kelly’s Caribbean Bar | Key West, FL
To start our Key West bar hopping happy hour, we started at Kelly’s for cheap wings ($4 for one lb.), margaritas ($3) and beer ($2). The wings are huge and tasty with one of their local brews. For the discount belly up to the bar, made out of an old Pan American airplane.

Half Shell Raw Bar | Key West, FL
Continuing our happy hour dinner, we headed to Half Shell by the water for smoked fish dip and steamed shrimp. They have more of an extensive seafood menu if you want to really sit down and eat.

El Siboney | Key West, FL
My half Cuban friend adamantly recommended El Siboney, which we also ate at twice. They have addicting grilled, buttery bread as a starter. Everything we had was tasty including the cuban sandwich, black bean soup, plantains, roasted pork, and chicken and yellow rice daily special. After spending some time at Smathers Beach we rode bikes here for lunch, just beware of the laid back service.

Santiago’s Bodgea | Key West, FL
Probably our nicest meal of the trip, we went to Santiago’s upon the suggestion of our bed and breakfast host (her favorite restaurant on the key). The restaurant is smaller and has dark, intimate lighting. We enjoyed bruschetta, beef tenderloin, bread service and one more plate I can’t remember…sorry. If you go, please get a glass of the sangria, for me.

Angelina Guest House | Key West, FL
On a side note, while in Key West we stayed at the Angelina Guest House. It was a lovely place to stay in a convenient location. Our room was spacious, inexpensive for the island and the innkeepers were very helpful. It didn’t hurt to be woken up by the smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls every day.

Restaurants on the list that we didn’t make it to: